Windham County Observer

Lenten Devotions
Begin In Several
Churches In City

City Catholic And Protestant Parishes Arrange Programs For Holy Season. Ashes Are Distributed At St. Mary's.

Lenten devotions began last Wednesday, Ash Wednesday in Catholic and Protestant churches of the district. Once more the faithful of many creeds, with great central fundamentals in their minds and hearts, seek to prepare themselves for Easter, bringing penance for sins and seeking spiritual enrichment at services through the weeks.

Specially solemn are the services this year because of the war situation and heavy demands upon all.

Ash Wednesday was for Catholics a day of fast and abstinence and special prayers. At St. Mary's thousands gathered for the blessing of ashes and remembrance of man's destiny and dependence upon God.

Participation in the Mass with the Missal, receiving Holy Communion, will feature the season.

During the weeks that follow Wednesdays and Fridays are to be days of abstinence, as acts of mortification. No marriages will be solemnized during this period. On Friday there will be Stations of the Cross, recalling the passion and death of Jesus. In many churches also there will be missions and special sermons

Some of the special Lenten services are as follows:

St. Mary's Church

Blessing and distribution of ashes took place Wednesday morning and evening at St. Mary's. In the evening, the Rev. Omer N. Mandler spoke in French and English, followed by the recitation of the Rosary and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Masses will be celebrated every morning at 7.30 and 8 o'clock during Lent. The Sunday Masses will be said at the usual hours.

Last night the Rev. Omer N. Mandler officiated at Lenten devotions. Next Tuesday evening a sermon in English will be a feature.

Stations of the Cross will be held every Friday evening, with Miss Rose Metras in charge of Lenten music.

Last Friday Father Mandler officiated and was celebrant at Benediction. Hundreds attended the services

Baptist Church

About thirty-five persons attended a World Day of Prayer service held Friday at the Baptist Church, and a Lenten prayer meeting was held on Thursday evening.

The theme of the World Day of Prayer held on the First Friday in Lent was "I Am the Way."

Congregational Church

A large congregation attended the first of the Union Lenten services held Sunday at the Congregational Church with the Rev. William Sale Terrell giving the address. Mr. Terrell is superintendent of the Baptist Convention of Connecticut. A joint choir under the direction of Edward B. Albertin, with Kenneth Sharpe at the organ, was heard.

Each Sunday night during Lent, the four Protestant churches of Putnam are uniting for Sunday evening services at the Congregational Church at 7:30. The Rev. C. Lawson Willard of the Protestant Episcopal denomination will be the preacher next Sunday.

Each Wednesday evening in Lent Mrs. Robinson will conduct a teachers training class on "How to Teach in the Church School." The class will meet at the parsonage and is open to all interested persons.

Methodist Church

A Lenten feature Sunday at the Methodist church was Layman's Day In addition to the men in the choir the men taking part in the worship service were D. B. Gilbert, R. L. Smith Jr. and Lewis F. Battey, with Frederick Parker at the piano. Those at the microphone were Albert James, Thomas Bell, Robert Smith, Clayton Shaw, G. Stanley Shaw, and the pastor.